Media Release : Friday, 25 February 2005

From Rhetoric to Reality - The Ranil Wicremesinghe Opposition Must Stop White Anteing the Government

There are numerous examples of community leaders, religious leaders, the business community and even political parties within Sri Lanka such as the JHU urging the two mainstream political parties, the UPFA and UNF to work co-operatively to deliver tangible relief to Sri Lanka’s long suffering masses. These cries for unity have been echoed by leaders of countries supporting tsunami affected Sri Lanka such as the USA, Japan and the UK. International agencies committed to democracy such as the World Bank and the ADB have also expressed their desire for unity between political parties in Sri Lanka.

In this context, recent statements made by Ranil Wickremesinghe are indeed curious to say the least. His behaviour is not conducive to establishing the bi-patrician approach most Sri Lankans yearn for handling the LTTE terrorist problem and the nations recovery from the devastating Tsunami. It is time for Ranil Wickremesinghe to move from rhetoric to reality, or as our Australian friends say ‘walk the talk’ of unity.

Since January, Mr Wickremesinghe and leading members of his party have:

1.      Raised serious concerns about the Sri Lankan Government’s capacity to deliver recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation of people affected by the tsunami whilst gallivanting around luxuriously inEurope.  This has affected Sri Lanka’s credibility amongst the international community, as a former Prime Mister himself was critical of the current Government’s conduct. This was music to the years of the separatist terrorist, the LTTE who were bemoaning discrimination.

2.      Warned that the truce with the Tamil Tiger Terrorists was under threat and that the Government must begin discussions with the LTTE terrorist unconditionally, immediately. Again playing straight into the LTTE’s hands as coincidently (or was it?), the LTTE terrorists raised similar sentiments through the terrorist friendly website, Tamil Net on the same day

3.      Exhorted that the Government should not be obstinate when referring to the Government’s decision to establish a buffer between the high tide level and reconstructed human dwellings. This is a smart move by Ranil as he portrays himself as speaking for the displaced poor. In reality, even the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) canvassed the need for a buffer zone at a Nairobi conference on the tsunami. Was Ranil disingenuous?

4.      Denigrated the extension of the emergency law in parliament to ensure speedy delivery of relief to the populace affected by the tsunami

5.      Canvassed vociferously for the release of the convicted former Wickremesinghe Government Minister, S.B. Dissanayake who is currently languishing in jail. This is a blatant attempt at subverting Sri Lanka’s judiciary, one of the few Sri Lankan institutions remaining quarantined from political corruption and nepotism

6.      Impersonated members of the JVP in television stations (such as the ITN) spreading misinformation and scuttlebutt. Ironically this issue was brought to public’s notice in Sri Lanka’s parliament.

Whilst parroting the virtues of unity Wickremesenghe’s opposition under his leadership has been continually carping at the Government and vindictively pursuing the JVP. It is then indeed ironic that in Wickremesenghe’s message to mark the third anniversary of the so-called cease fire agreement said:

“ Let us get together to safeguard the ceasefire agreement and work to achieve long lasting peace in Sri Lanka”

The Tamil Tiger terrorists responded in kind to Wickremesenghe’s plea by shooting dead an innocent soldier in Jaffna  who was protecting children from being kidnapped by LTTE terrorists to augment their clandestine forces.

If Wickremesenghe is honest in his vision, then it is time that he leaves the tigers den and distances himself from the rhetoric.

In effect, he has to walk the talk or quite rightly, Sri Lankan’s of all ethnic background would unite either to condemn him to the political scrap heap in perpetuity or install a pious, righteous leader to UNP’s leadership.  Despites Ranil’s efforts to expel any credible opposition, there are people still within the party laying dormant until they are invited to lead.

Ranjith Soysa 

Spokesperson

Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights in Sri Lanka (SPUR)

Reg No. A 003 07777 M

PO Box 4066

Mulgrave    VIC 3170

Australia